Chapter 48

Dokgo Han descended from the stage and approached where Hwa Eun-wol stood. He couldn’t help but be curious—the one who accepted the wager was here with another participant. Especially since the servants had already revealed the guest’s identity. Yet Dokgo Han tilted his head in puzzlement.

‘No way? He bet thirty thousand nyang because of that guy?’

Approaching, Dokgo Han stared at Danwooseong and Hwa Eunwol with an expression of utter disbelief before asking.

“Young Master Hua.”

“Why?”

“You didn’t bet a fortune on the merchant’s son, did you?”

Hwa Eun-wol deliberately cupped her hand to her ear as if she couldn’t hear well.

“What?”

When Hua Eun-wol blatantly ignored him, Dokgo Han shook his head and said.

“You’re the next Supreme Commander of the Imperial Council? That’s utterly ridiculous.”

Dukgo Han openly mocked Hwa Eun-wol’s judgment, and Cheol Myeong-ho muttered fearlessly.

“What the hell is that moron talking about?”

Cheol Myeong-ho’s crude words echoed Dan Woo-seong’s inner thoughts. Given the place, he remained silent, but Cheol Myeong-ho had no such manners.

Though they were quite a distance away, the sharp-eared Dokgo Han stopped abruptly, and a chilling silence fell.

“······.”

Not only the Hwaseon siblings, but even Dan Wooseong stared blankly at Cheol Myeongho.

It was definitely a line crossed with his harsh words.

In a way, he was truly a remarkable troublemaker. He was the sort of man who had to cause trouble at least once a day to feel satisfied.

Cheolmyeongho addressed the people staring blankly at him.

“Why? I didn’t say who the idiot was. Got a problem with that?”

He snorted in disbelief at the attitude that seemed to say, “There’s no subject here.”

Cheolmyeongho glared at Dokgo Han, then fixed his eyes on the black medium-sized sword he held.

‘Similar, huh?’

Somehow, it was a long sword that seemed similar in weight and aura to the black iron umbrella he himself carried.

Meanwhile, a Baekryongdae warrior approached with a leisurely expression, blocking Dokgo Han as he walked toward Cheolmyeongho.

“Young Master Dugu, do not cause a disturbance during the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Gathering. If you unnecessarily incur the elders’ displeasure, you might be eliminated right here. Did you not come to win?”

The White Dragon Corps warrior’s response was smooth. He was subtly flattering Dokgo Han.

Dukgo Han looked toward the dais.

Sure enough. The Martial Alliance elders, including Elder Noh, were all staring this way with displeased expressions.

As Dokgo Han stepped back, barely suppressing his anger, it felt as if Cheolmyeongho’s status had instantly risen to match Dokgo Han’s.

Dokgo Han left a parting remark as he returned to his makeshift camp.

“We’ll meet on the battlefield.”

Cheol Myeong-ho muttered back in an even quieter voice.

“Huh? I didn’t even participate. Who the hell is this guy trying to set the mood?”

Cheol Myeong-ho responded with a bow to the Baekryongdae warrior who had stepped in appropriately.

“I’ll be careful.”

The madman was surprisingly polite at times like this.

The Baekryongdae warrior smiled. Since he wasn’t on good terms with the Jeongwanghoe, he didn’t really plan to say anything.

Dan Woo-sung sighed and looked at Cheol Myeong-ho.

“You too, really. You’re just like that, Hori.”

“Exactly.”

Danwooseong and Cheolmyeongho locked eyes. Since he didn’t have anything specific to say, Danwooseong gave Cheolmyeongho a thumbs-up.

‘Good job, you bastard.’

That was the gist of the gesture. Cheol Myeong-ho responded with a thumbs-up of his own.

‘Don’t mention it.’

Seeing this, the Hwa siblings finally seemed to feel better and burst out laughing.

“Hahaha…”

I thought these two people, who seemed completely mismatched, were actually friends.

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“Namgung Jeil-do and Yu Jaseng, to the martial arts stage.”

Dan Woo-sung watched the challenger ascend the martial arts stage.

Who would use such an arrogant nickname?

It was Namgung Wi, the late-stage cultivator sent as the representative from the Namgung Clan. The moment Dan Woo-sung saw Namgung Wi’s face, he thought to himself:

‘The grandson of the Blade Emperor.’

This was the man who had chosen the grand title of Dragon-Phoenix Grand Assembly for his own lofty ambitions.

His aura was strikingly similar to that of the Blade Emperor’s bloodline. His solid build, appearing broad and expansive, and especially his thick jawline were uncannily alike. As a force vying for the title of the world’s foremost clan, he appeared remarkably skilled despite his youth.

How could martial prowess be judged solely by age and status?

Recalling Jin Xiao and Bai Wuzhen, who had both reached the pinnacle of the world in their twenties, it was hardly surprising.

Dan Woo-sung thought Dokgo Han and Namgung Wi’s expressions were similar. So, were the two of them on bad terms?

‘You two will receive special treatment.’

Dugu Han’s attitude only reinforced that thought. He intended to make them realize the gap, rather than just letting them win.

Moreover, since the master wouldn’t have trained the man he was grooming as successor carelessly, it was inefficient from the start to face Dokgo Han and Namgung Wi solely with the ‘Iron Wall’ technique, which focused on containing internal energy.

Was it because they were conscious of Dokgo Han’s martial prowess?

Namgung Wi charged forward the moment the duel began, shattering his opponent’s weapon in a single strike and sending it flying.

Namgoong Wi slammed his heavy sword, engraved with azure dragons throughout, onto the ground and glared at his opponent.

Having seen Dokgo Han finish his opponent in one strike, Namgung Wi displayed an attitude that he too would end the duel with a single attack.

Yet Namgoong Wi wore a smile of utter contempt on his lips. This infuriating smirk was invisible to most, but to Woo Jaesang, it was painfully clear.

‘Damn it!’

That’s why Wu Zasheng didn’t give up. Gritting his teeth, he picked up the broken sword and charged again.

That was his undoing.

Namgung Wi dodged several of Woo Ja-saeng’s lunging attacks, then struck his left leg to throw him off balance. Before his opponent could even fall, he mercilessly jabbed the hilt of his sword into his forehead.

Thud!

As the man collapsed, the leader, Yu Jeong-hong, spoke in a voice charged with inner strength.

“That was excessive. Namgung Wi, is that how your master taught you?”

Namgoong Wi swiftly assumed a bowing stance toward Yoo Jeong-hong and replied calmly.

“My apologies, Chief. I was excessive.”

The emcee, looking uneasy, glanced at Chief Yoo Jeong-hong before announcing.

“Namgung Jeil-do, victory.”

Namgung Wi descended from the stage with an expressionless face.

‘A martial arts match isn’t some child’s play.’

Hwa Eun-wol looked at Namgung Wi with a look of contempt.

‘Arrogant fool. I pray he meets either the Crown Prince or Dokgo Han.’

Namgung Wi thought that if he met Dokgo Han, he would fight to the death, if only for Baek Ryeon. And if he met Danwoo Seong, that superficial politeness and the arrogance filling it would be exposed to the world a little more clearly.

Hwa Eun-wol, though originally affiliated with the Imperial Council, was a man who cared little about who belonged to what faction. He had been taught that way since childhood.

Due to the host’s manipulation, the first round pitting A against B against C mostly proceeded swiftly.

The referees’ extensive experience meant there were no surprises.

The duels between Dan Wuseong, Dokgo Mubong Dokgo Han, Namgung Jeil and Namgung Wi, the Golden Sand Sword, Plum Blossom Wanderer, and Dotting Cang Swift Brush concluded swiftly.

The Wudang Sect did not participate this time either, narrowing the list of potential champions to these six. The skill levels of these late-stage cultivators varied so drastically that they were polar opposites.

They weren’t called prestigious major sects or the martial world’s elite families for nothing.

In that sense, the eldest son of the merchant guild was truly the most unexpected of surprises, giving the impression of a heretic who had appeared in the martial world.

After the nicknames of the winners in the main event were called out one by one, a brief break was given.

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Namgoong Wi sat alone in the makeshift tent, surrounded by all the martial artists of the Namgoong family. As the man most likely to become the next head of the Namgoong family, everyone was clearly cautious around him.

Namgoong Wi, who had been glaring at Dokgo Han, spoke up.

“Where the hell is that bastard looking? Is Bai Liyan here? No, he’s not.”

Following Dokgo Han’s gaze, Namgung Wi saw the Hwa siblings. Then, his eyes met those of a man called Kwon Gak.

“Why are that merchant’s son and Hua Eun-wol sticking together?”

“I don’t know. They must have known each other for some time. Prince Hwa did not participate in the Dragon Phoenix Grand Banquet.”

Namgung Wei nodded.

“The strong contenders have dwindled. We only need to face Dugu Han in the finals.”

At that moment, all eyes turned to Yu Zhenghong, the leader of the Martial Alliance. Rising from his seat, Yu Zhenghong picked up the nameplates of the finalists and, before everyone, reached out to the bracket.

The emcee explained.

“Due to an injury-related withdrawal, we will adjust the match order. The guest fighter who was originally granted a bye will replace the withdrawn participant.”

It was the logical next step, yet suddenly, Yoo Jeong-hong turned around and stared intently at Dan Woo-seong.

‘Good luck.’

There was no malice. I had expected Danwooseong to be stronger from the start.

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Dan Woo-sung, having won his second preliminary match against an unknown man using only martial arts, was resting when he was called for the next match—one sure to draw murmurs from the crowd.

“Dokgo Mubong and the challenger, step onto the stage.”

Originally a walkover winner, Dan Woo-sung was called to face Dokgo Han as a replacement for the man who withdrew.

He glared at Dokgo Han and the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, Yoo Jeong-hong, and said.

‘Oh, thank you. Fine.’

If he defeated the challenger, his next opponent would unfortunately be Namgung Wi. He had hoped to face him in the finals, but it seemed they would meet in the semifinals instead.

Hwa Eun-wol stared at the situation board with a sour expression.

“Your Highness, this means Namgung Wi will be our next opponent. I thought we might advance by default.”

With the lot falling to Namgung Wi, both Geumsa Sword and Plum Blossom Wanderer needed just one more win to secure their place in the finals.

Dan Woo-sung replied curtly and headed toward the combat stage.

“Good. I’ll be back.”

Cheol Myeong-ho pleaded.

“Could you not crush him?”

Dan Wooseong said nothing. The princes of the Imperial Council would give their all to defeat him anyway. Cheol Myeongho’s request was unnecessary.

Dan Woo-sung and Dokgo Han faced each other on the martial arts stage.

The emcee announced.

“Yes.”

After the two had completed their formalities, Dokgo Han added a pointless remark with a smile.

“Hwa Eun-wol is out of luck.”

Danwooseong replied curtly, as if annoyed to engage.

“……Shut your mouth.”

Just as the veins on Dokgo Han’s forehead bulged, the middle sword swiftly thrust toward Dan Wooseong’s face.

Swoosh!

‘I’ll smash that mouth for you.’

Dokgo Han wielded that heavy Dokgo sword with the lightness and agility of a feather-light sword. It was completely different from his previous display at the Yongbong Grand Tournament.

Even the sound of the wind was extraordinary.

From the very start, he poured out his skill and inner strength. As the son of the Galaxy Alliance who had defeated Gu Yangsheng, Dugu Han intended to give his absolute best, regardless of whether his opponent lived or died. Only then would he stand a chance against Namgoong Wei.

His swift swordplay with the medium-length sword was both bold and devastating.

As Dan Wuseong pushed off the ground and retreated, he thrust his left hand into the air.

An intangible fist wind shot diagonally skyward, then collided with a thud against Dugu Han’s middle sword, which he had barely managed to retrieve.

‘Huh?’

The hand gripping the sword went numb. Faced with a fist wind he’d never used before, he couldn’t help but be flustered.

‘He hasn’t used this yet.’

Then he needed to be wary of other martial arts as well. Dokgo Han charged again, swinging his heavy sword. But the sword could only barely keep up with Danwoo Seong’s movements.

His body movements and speed were entirely different from what Dokgo Han had anticipated.

Lowering his stance, Dan Woosung made a surprise thrust, deftly parrying the heavy sword with his left hand while simultaneously reaching out with his right to grab Dokgo Han by the collar.

Startled, Dokgo Han thrust off the ground, leaping backward mid-air in a single swift motion.

It was an evasive maneuver that seemed somewhat excessive.

Without realizing it, Dokgo Han gasped for breath. It wasn’t that his opponent’s martial prowess was terrifying; he was stunned by how utterly seamless their combat response was.

He was flustered because he couldn’t believe the son of a merchant, not even from a martial family, could be like this. When Dan Woosung seized the middle sword, he had intended to draw up his internal energy, but the follow-up attack was too swift for him to respond that way.

‘Gu Yangsheng didn’t lose for nothing.’

Dan Wooseong, his hand still in a choking grip, glared at Dokgo Han and then laughed. Closing the distance again as if to say this was only the beginning, he spoke.

“Dukgo Gongja, the stage seems too small for you to escape.”

Dukgo Han narrowed his eyes. Namgung Wi wasn’t the problem; the man before him was the real challenge.

ⓒ Yoo Jin-seong